We always like to end the week on a high - after all Freeday should be celebrated, so we're delighted today to present the be-au-ti-ful wedding of Scott and Victoria. For all you ladies who are fans of the shabby chic look, and dream of a country manor wedding, then Scott and Victoria's summer celebration among the vales of Derbyshire should be right up your street.
This is also an introduction for OneFabDay readers to the work of a new photographer who hasn't contributed previously - Sara Dalzell, who is based in Northern Ireland but travels all over capturing beautiful weddings like this one...
Victoria chose a very soft palette of ivory, mauve and fern green for her wedding - whether this was on purpose or just a natural development of the choices of her shabby chic decor ideas, hydrangea and gypsophilia floral arrangements and handmade stationery - it combines to create a very feminine palette that complements her English rose colouring.
But before getting into the celebration, we need to get to know the happy couple a little better... "Scott and I met at Christmas 2000, I will never forget first seeing Scottie, and pretty much falling in love straight away. He was clearly rather dashing and nobody has ever made me laugh like him. I was a geeky Art Student studying photography and he was a fitness fanatic studying sport science, you couldn’t get more opposite but we couldn’t be separated."
After 10 years together Scott finally popped the question while the couple were on holiday in Barcelona. The big moment took place on the balcony of the Grand Marina Hotel, and while Victoria keeps the details to herself, suffice to say "It was pretty special, and the ring was so perfect, he’s a clever boy" and that's all we need to know really...
I fell across my bridesmaid dressed by fluke, these were in the Christmas 2010 sale at Karen Millen and I snapped 5 up! The little bridesmaid dress was from next, I altered the length to fit in with the others.
The wedding service was held in the nearby St Peter's Church, Buxton, Derbyshire, a traditional Anglican chapel built in 1839, but the site has had a place of worship since the 13th century - how beautiful to think of all the generations who have been married on the same spot over the centuries...
"Saying I do! It’s funny really the service and vows were the part I was most nervous about but this was the moment we both truly forgot about all those people sat watching us and took in each and very word, Its pretty cheesy but It was truly a magical moment!"
The confetti tossed and the hugs and kisses distributed, the newly wed Scott and Victoria hopped into their good friend Nigel Wilkinson's beloved vintage Jaguar (which he lent them as a wedding gift) and sped off to their reception venue Thornbridge Hall.
While guests enjoyed clinkies in their honour, they spent time wandering the gardens and house with their photographer Sara Dalzell, who captured their joy in each other and the day. These two are total naturals on front of the camera, so combined with the picture postcard setting, the results are beautiful to behold...
The choice of venue was much easier for Scott and Victoria than for most couples, given that it's actually where Victoria works! Most brides would want to escape their place of work for their wedding day, but even from just this brief glimpse of the beauty of Thornbridge Hall I can see why Victoria wanted to be wed there...
"I’d just graduated from Uni and I was doing part-time photography work then I saw job come up for Thornbridge Brewery, new business/new role so I jumped at it and fitted in the team well, From that moment I knew I wanted to get married there, It was the most amazing place I’d ever seen, the gardens are breathtaking and the layout of the carriage house, with its amazing underground bar, is perfect. As my boss owned the house he let us have some photos in the main house (Thornbridge is a private family home only open in part as a wedding venue),which was lovely of them , the music room was my favorite. We used Larkspur St James catering of Sheffield and they really did put on a good show, we also renamed 2 beers — Torz’s Tipple and Lord Scottsworth and all proceeds went to Charity. We were very lucky to have our reception at such an amazing venue."
When it came to the look and feel for the decor, Victoria was pretty clear on what she wanted to created..."I have to admit I’m obsessed with things looking Old and Shabby so I wanted everything to look rather vintage, so I started by collecting a lot of old vases and jars from car boot sales, I tied quite a lot of glass into the day, the glass vases fitted in well. I used my granddad's old type writing for all the place cards, there were 3 different types of tags, all of things I love - Paris, Hydrangeas and Hummingbirds. The main flowers were always going to be Hydrangeas and Gypsophila, the Hydrangeas literally changed from Green to pastel pink four days before the wedding so I was over the moon at how it all came together."
Roping in talented friend's and family is one of my favourite DIY shortcuts, and Victoria's stationery is a great example of this in action. Her sister designed all the invitations and friends Kerry and Dannilelle did all the illustration work for Save the Dates, Invitations, Table Plan, Order of service etc, for Victoria "this was a very personal touch and I still look at them and love them so much, I wouldn’t have done it any differently."
For those of you scouring charity shops and fairs for decor for the day, here's a lesson from Victoria - look much closer to home, or rather - at home... "The frame for the table plan was my parentsm and it used to have a picture of me and my sisters in that hung in our lounge for years so I’m glad I used that, I love how it was hung in thin air and looked as though it was floating."
But the personal touch didn't just end at the reception decor! Well outdoing all the efforts of the best man and groomsmen, Victoria's bridesmaid sprung a very special surprise for her bestie with a slideshow of the past 11 years of the couple's lives, bringing on lots of tears - I am not surprised!
What advice would you give to brides and grooms planning their day? I would say to try and keep as much personal thought to it as you can, your bridesmaid and friends can't wait to get involved, we had so many nights of making bits and bobs for the big day. Read lots of blogs for inspiration, and just enjoy planning your big day, I loved every bit of mine. The best bit of advice I would give is get a good photographer, this is the only thing you have to look back on your special day, Sara Dalzell did such an amazing job, she went over all my ideas and the style of photographs I wanted, she captured moments I thought could never be caught - a super talented young lady who really did make my day. Also don’t get taken in by designer dressers, I went for a dress that didn’t really have a designer and it was a great price! Also hit the high street well in advance for bridesmaid dresses; I got over 50% discounts off mine just by shopping in advance. We splashed out a lot on catering/venue so this was my way of saving some cash and it worked a treat.
Huge congratulations to Victoria and Scott, and our heartfelt thanks for sharing their beautiful day with us.
And a final word must be reserved for Sara Dalzell, photographer behind the lens on this happy occasion but I think I'll leave it to Victoria to give her verdict, as everyone knows - the bride knows best! "Sara was amazing, and it was the best gift a friend could ever give, her images blew all my friends and family away"
All the Wedding Details
- Ceremony: St Peters Church, Buxton, Derbyshire
- Reception: Thornbridge Hall
- Wedding Photography: Sara Dalzell Photography
- Wedding Dress: Cavendish Bridal, Hayfield, Derbyshire
- Bridesmaids dresses: Karen Millen
- Shoes: Monsoon
- Groom’s suit: Cavendish Bridal, Hayfield, Buxton
- Flowers: Flowers 4 you, Buxton, Derbyshire
- Cake: Ruth Cakes, Chapel en le frith
- Glass heart favours: Past times, vintage vases collected from car boots,
- Make Up & Hair: Velu Hairdressers, Buxton, Derbyshire
- Wedding band: Purple Cloud of Funk
- Makeup: Joy Frost — Monyash, Bakewell